Catholics on capital punishment

Question 1

What did St Augustine teach about capital punishment?

Answer 1

1. St Augustine was AGAINST the death penalty. He said that a person cannot change once they are dead and so needs to given every chance to change while they are alive. He believes more merciful and alternative methods of punishment should be used rather than the death penalty.
2. St Augustine put forward the spiritual arguments against CP, believing we should “hate the sin, not the sinner” and thus show compassion to those who have committed crimes.
3. we should reform criminals for the better

Question 2

quote for St Augustine.

Answer 2

“There is no space to reform character except in this life.”

Question 3

What did Pope John Paul II teach?

Answer 3

1. Suggested that capital punishment should be avoided unless it is the only way to protect people from the criminal.
2. In Evangelium Vitae, he identifies some rare cases where it would otherwise not be possible to defend the rest of society., capital punishment may be the only option. However, the document goes on to state that such circumstances are practically non-existent.

Question 4

Quote for Pope John Paul II

Answer 4

“Punishment…ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity.”

Question 5

What did Pope Francis teach?

Answer 5

1. He is against the death penalty, saying that is it no longer justifiable and there is also the chance that the wrong person could be killed. This is the position set out in the CCC which Catholics should follow.
2. Pope Francis wrote in Fratelli Tutti that the death penalty is “inadmissable” in all cases “because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person”

Question 6

Quote for Pope Francis

Answer 6

” Do not kill” ten commandments